Adams not-guilty plea to fall on deaf ears

By John Ley

12:01AM GMT 15 Dec 2003

Micky Adams was introduced to the pantomime season at the Walkers Stadium but he was not laughing. Now, the Leicester manager plans to fight his ground against what is a certain Football Association charge and touchline ban.

Two Leicester players were dismissed and Adams became the fourth manager to be ordered to the stands following a pre-season directive to referees to clamp down on abuse from the dugout.

Adams was angry that Mike Riley had dismissed Matt Elliott for leading with his forearm in a challenge on Birmingham's David Dunn. As Riley left the pitch at half-time surrounded by five stewards, Adams approached him before being pulled away by fourth official Steve Bennett.

Adams denied using abusive language and said: "I'd be disappointed if I missed any games. If I do, it's a nonsense. I did nothing wrong, nothing. I'll defend myself to the hilt on that one.

"The referee said nothing to me. I was informed by my club secretary that I was off. I had said to the referee that the sending-off was a key decision, and decisions like that get managers the sack.

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"But I was very careful with what I said. They're honest people generally and should ref the game as they see it. But they've got to get key decisions right. They haven't on this occasion."

Adams called for referees to be more accountable and to explain to the press their actions but Riley rejected an offer to do so and explain his decision to banish the Leicester manager.

Riley, who will officiate at Euro 2004, was right on the player dismissals but otherwise inconsistent. He had allowed too many challenges to go unpunished before finally using his card.

The Midlands derby had been heated from the start and both Andy Impey and Robbie Savage, returning to his former club, were fortunate to survive punishment for hefty challenges. By the time James Scowcroft was cautioned, tempers were fraying.

Elliott's 38th-minute dismissal led to the first goal. Leicester were still reorganising their defence when Damien Johnson fed Clinton Morrison to claim his first League goal since February.

Leicester were chasing shadows and frustrated by the determination of Savage and Muzzy Izzet. And, proof that the party season is here, came when Walker produced a moment of madness. In 114 previous meetings these sides had never had a man sent off but Leicester were suddenly down to nine.

The England goalkeeper's attempted clearance hit two players and, 10 yards out of his area, he pounced on the ball, cradled it in his arms - then waited for the ground to open up under him.

Walker tried to explain his error, saying: "There was only Ben Thatcher behind me so I had to catch the ball. It was bouncing about and I had no option. Forssell would have gone through otherwise and made it 2-0 and it would have been all over."

Forssell converted Savage's cross to complete a day Leicester may learn to regret; as a consequence, Elliott will miss three games, Walker one, while Adams can expect two matches in the stands.

Kenny Cunningham, the Birmingham defender, had sympathy for Elliott, saying: "Just before he made contact, you could see he was struggling to make his ground and I think he used his arm to gain a bit of leverage.

"I don't think there was any intent. He caught Dunny in the face but was unfortunate to leave the field."

Morrison, who was scoring on his first start for nine months, is desperate to keep his place. "I have been very frustrated," he said. "It's been a lot of things, with the shoulder injury and not being able to get back into the team. But the manager has kept faith in me and now I've been given the chance. It is down to me to stay in the team."